James Bailey, Jr.

JAMES WALTER BAILEY, JR., 98, OF CHESTER, VIRGINIA PASSED ON TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2021, PEACEFULLY AT HOME. HE WAS BORN IN SUSSEX COUNTY, AUGUST 27, 1922. HE WAS A WONDERFUL SON, HUSBAND, FATHER, GRAND AND GREAT GRAND FATHER, BROTHER AND UNCLE.

HE WAS THE SON OF THE LATE, JAMES WALTER, SR. AND MARY LIPP BAILEY. ALSO PRECEDED IN DEATH BY TWO DAUGHTERS AND SONS-IN-LAWS, BRENDA (JOHN) ELLWOOD, RACHEL (BOYD) GRIGGS AND SON-IN-LAW, DWIGHT WHEELER; TWO SISTERS, LOUISE (GEORGE) BLACKWELL AND HELEN (GROVER) GOOD; AND ONE BROTHER, JOHN (ELSIE) BAILEY, SR.

JAMES WAS THE MASTER OF MANY TRADES. HE LOVED TO PIDDLE AND ALWAYS HAD A PROJECT GOING. HE WAS A GREAT COOK, GARDENER AND A WONDERFUL FRIEND TO ALL.

JAMES WAS A U.S. NAVY SEA BEE IN WW11 (1942-1945) IN THE PACIFIC AND ATTENDED MANY REUNIONS OF THE 3RD SPECIAL GROUP. HE LOVED TELLING STORIES OF HIS AMAZING LIFE AND ALWAYS HAD A CUTE JOKE TO TELL.

HE WAS RETIRED FOR 45 YEARS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AT THE FEDERAL REFORMATORY IN PETERSBURG.  HE WAS GREATLY RESPECTED BY HIS CO-WORKERS AND THE INMATES.  AFTER RETIREMENT, HE WORKED BUILDING THE WALMART, SOUTHPARK MALL AND THE TOWER AT STONE MFG.

HE ATTENDED FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WAS A LIFE MEMBER OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, POST 637 AND THE AMERICAN LEGION.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVING WIFE GLORIA OF 29 YEARS; THREE DAUGHTERS, DONNA WHEELER OF PRINCE GEORGE, TAMMY (KENT) BRIDGES OF CHESTER, AND JANET WEBSTER OF NORRIS CITY, ILLINOIS; AND ONE SON, JAMES CALVIN, SR. (TAMMIE) OF PRINCE GEORGE; BROTHER-IN-LAW, ROY (SUE) NORRIS OF LA CASTA, FLORIDA; GRANDDAUGHTERS, MELISSA (CHARLES) DARLING, KARRI BRIDGES, CARA HAYES, AND LISA (LEE) BYERLY; GRANDSONS, BRIAN (MICHELLE) ELLWOOD, CHRISTIAN (DARBY) WHEELER, KEVIN (JENIFER) WHEELER, BOYD GRIGG & JAMES CALVIN BAILEY, JR.;  GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTERS, RACHEL BYERLY, AFTON ELWOOD, AND SHANNON BAILEY; GREAT-GRANDSONS, FIN ELWOOD, DECLAN AND JAXON WHEELER, JESSICA GRIGGS, CONNER ARCHER, AND CHARLES DARLING, JR.;  TWO SPECIAL NIECES, JOAN BAILEY WRIGHT AND SUSAN (JACK) JETER; MANY MORE NIECES,  NEPHEWS AND GREAT FRIENDS.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL BE HELD AT A LATER TIME.  FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE RECEIVED AT HIS RESIDENCE.